Archives for June 2018

Pro Hockey Rumors will be following and updating every selection of the 2018 NHL Draft. Stay here for every pick made in the draft this weekend:

Round One:

1. Buffalo – D Rasmus Dahlin, Frolunda HC (SHL)

No surprise here with the top pick. Dahlin has long been expected to go #1 overall and the Sabres winning the draft lottery all but guaranteed it. Dahlin is a defensive prospect unlike any seen in recent years. His combination of skating, skill, size, and intelligence is almost unheard of at this age. Dahlin will immediately step into a top-four role in Buffalo, which should only accelerate his growth into a star defenseman in the NHL.

2. Carolina – F Andrei Svechnikov, Barrie Colts (OHL)

The Hurricanes hit the jackpot in the NHL Draft Lottery, moving up to #2 for the right to take a generational forward talent in Svechnikov. The team confirmed weeks ago that Svechnikov would be the pick as, like Dahlin, he simply has a leg up on all of the other prospects in this class. Svechnikov can score from just about anywhere on the ice and has more offensive ability and creativity than any of his peers. He also plays a power game that allows him to create space and crash the net effectively. Svechnikov will be a dangerous scoring presence immediately in a top-six role for Carolina next year.

3. Montreal – F Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Assat (Liiga)

The third pick presented the first real intrigue of this draft and the Canadiens played into it. Kotkaniemi’s draft stock has been steadily improving in recent months, but many still felt that Montreal would be reaching to take him here. However, Kotkaniemi is the best natural center in this class – by a wide margin – and the Canadiens decided to fill a need rather than perhaps take the best available player. Kotkaniemi is not much of a reach in reality as well; the Finnish pivot projects to be a second-line player with top-line upside. It remains to be seen whether he can challenge for that role right away in Montreal or not.

4. Ottawa – F Brady Tkachuk, Boston University (NCAA)

In another slight surprise, the Senators take Tkachuk, the son of Keith Tkachuk and younger brother of the Calgary Flames’ Matthew Tkachuk. Brady plays a heavy, power forward style like his family members and is far ahead of most forwards in the class in terms of his physical development. He can crash the net and score goals, even if his numbers at BU this season don’t exemplify that ability. Tkachuk is also an underrated skater and passer. However, Tkachuk’s offensive impact may be limited at the next level and his ceiling is likely a top-six complementary player. He may be able to contend for a spot right away in Ottawa, but another year in college wouldn’t hurt.

5. Arizona – F Barrett Hayton, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

The first pick of this draft that can truly be described as a reach, the Coyotes select a two-way center in Hayton. While Hayton plays a hard-nosed, high-effort style and has a developed defensive game beyond his years, his offense upside remains a major question. Some scouts feel that he will be limited to a complementary, middle-six player in the NHL. Arizona clearly sees a fit and believes that Hayton’s offensive ability has room to grow, but there is certainly some intrigue to this selection. Hayton is a project player that is unlikely to debut in Arizona next season.

6. Detroit – F Filip Zadina, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

At one point this season Zadina was battling with Svechnikov for the title of best forward in the draft, but has now fallen behind several other competitors, as shown by his fall in this draft from where many he expected he may go at #3. An extremely talented goal-scorer with a shot that can find the back of the net from anywhere in the offensive zone, the Czech forward should be a first-line option for years to come. He performed well on the big stage at the most recent World Juniors, and had a huge year as a rookie in the QMJHL. If he returns to Halifax – which is certainly not a guarantee – there’s a good chance he could lead the league in scoring.

7. Vancouver – D Quinn Hughes, University of Michigan (NCAA)

Hughes is the second defenseman selected this year, but is an even better skater than the defenseman taken first overall. Hughes flies around the ice and is a gifted puck-mover, making plays with speed, patience, and vision. While Hughes is undersized at 5’10”, he also plays a strong, smart defensive game and does not have the usual defensive zone liabilities that smaller blue liners often bring. Hughes is both a threat to score and a threat to break up an opposing scoring chance at any point in the game. A dangerous defender, Hughes is likely to step into a top-four role with Vancouver after one more year at Michigan.

8. Chicago – D Adam Boqvist, Brynas (Superelit)

Another interesting pick in the top ten, as Boqvist goes ahead of several other top-rated defensemen. If you want some more proof that Chicago doesn’t care about size in the new NHL, Boqvist comes in at just 166-lbs as one of the youngest players in this year’s class. What he lacks in size though he makes up for with his highlight-reel plays, and is likely the best goal-scoring threat among any defensemen in the draft. He’ll likely stay in Sweden for another year (or two) and get a real crack in the SHL, but injects a huge amount of skill into what is quickly becoming an impressive stable of Chicago defense prospects.

9. NY Rangers – F Vitaly Kravtsov, Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)

A strong postseason in the KHL for Kravtsov sent him soaring up draft boards and finally landing at #9 to New York. Kravtsov has size, strength, and positional versatility and there are no questions about his skating. However, his offensive skills are still very raw and he has yet to develop a true two-way game. This is a high-risk, high-reward pick by the Rangers, who have two more selections in the round and could afford to reach for a guy whose upside they liked. After a couple more seasons in Russia, Kravtsov could be a dangerous player in New York.

10. Edmonton – D Evan Bouchard, London Knights (OHL)

When you look at Bouchard before he gets on the ice you might expect him to be a defensive defenseman who engages physically and can contribute on the penalty kill. When you see him on the ice though you realize he can do so much more. The Knights’ workhorse was among the all-time highest scoring OHL draft-eligible defensemen with 87 points, and can do basically everything well. Whether his skating is good enough to jump to the NHL right away, his quick decisions and calm demeanor in his own end will allow him to have a long professional career.

11. NY Islanders – F Oliver Wahlstrom, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)

With the first of back-to-back picks, the Islanders take the best goal-scorer in this draft. Wahlstrom, who is headed to Boston College next year, has next-level offensive skills. Armed with a quick release and deadly accuracy, Wahlstrom has an uncanny ability to find the back of the net and has a 40-goal ceiling in the NHL. He’s also a strong forechecker and has good skating ability. Wahlstrom simply needs to round out his game, which he can do at BC next year. When he joins the Isles afterward, he’ll immediately be a scoring threat at the next level.

12. NY Islanders (from CGY) – D Noah Dobson, Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)

No one could have reasonably predicted that New York would be able to land both Wahlstrom and Dobson with their two first-round picks. Both players were considered guarantees for the top ten and Dobson was considered by some to be the second-best defender in the draft class. Dobson is deceptively quick and mobile for a 6’3″ behemoth. Dobson carries the puck well and plays a responsible game in his own zone. He could work on using his frame to his advantage more often and could also be more active on offense, but he already has shown the ability to do both. Dobson is already close to the NHL and may push for a roster spot this year.

13. Dallas – F Ty Dellandrea, Flint Firebirds (OHL)

The hosts of the draft make a nice pick with the well-rounded center Dellandrea. Scouts were torn on Dellandrea, as some questioned his offensive upside and felt he was more of a second-round talent, while others were impressed with his production on a poor Flint team and saw his room to grow as a first-round option. There is no question that Dellandrea still needs to focus on his physical development and skill development, but he has already established a smart, two-way game. After one or two more junior seasons, this pick could look a lot less like a reach and a lot more like a homerun.

14. Philadelphia (from STL) – F Joel Farabee, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)

Farabee is yet another solid young forward for the Flyers to add to their well-stocked pipeline. Farabee is dangerous with the puck, but a star off the puck. A smart winger with great vision and offensive instincts, Farabee will make an impact on offense even without high-end skill. He also has incredible skating ability and can forecheck with the best and get back on defense in a hurry. Farabee needs to add weight and work on that high-end skill development and he’ll be at a great spot to do that at Boston University for the next year or two. Farabee has a very high floor and will almost definitely be an effective two-way forward in the NHL down the road.

15. Florida – F Grigori Denisenko, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL)

The Panthers had several defensive options on the board, but instead went with one of the most talented forwards available. Denisenko might have some red flags due to contractual obligations in Russia, but can flat out create in the offensive zone. Plays with the puck on his stick constantly, but he still hasn’t been tested at the KHL level. That’ll be the next step unless he can get out of his deal and make it over to the AHL right away. Either way, Florida went with a high-risk, super high-reward pick at #15.

16. Colorado – F Martin Kaut, Dynamo Pardubice (Czech Republic)

Kaut is one of the safest picks of this draft class due to his next-level hockey IQ. The big Czech winger plays smart, mistake-free hockey all while staying active on offense. He can win battles along the boards and excels at using space and finding offensive opportunities. He also has a developed two-way game and forechecking ability. Kaut will never be a super-skilled player and surrenders some scoring upside by not taking risks with the puck, but at the end of the day is a near-guaranteed future NHLer.

17. New Jersey – D Ty Smith, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Smith is not your typical WHL player; he’s an undersized defender who avoids the physical aspects of the game in favor of swift skating, great lateral quickness, and escapability with the puck. Smith is an elite skater whose game relies on his speed, both jumping into the offensive rush and getting back to his own end. He also moves the puck safely and makes smart passes and good positional reads. However, despite Smith’s efforts to win battles on the boards and compete in man-to-man defense, he is limited by his size. He can often disappear in contests that get more physical. Smith is a couple years away from the pros and needs to use that time learning how to adjust to those types of games if he wants to play a major role in the NHL.

18. Columbus – F Liam Foudy, London Knights (OHL)

You won’t be able to find a better athlete in this draft class, and Foudy proved it time and time again this season. Exploding onto the scene at the Top Prospects game, Foudy followed it up with a dominating performance at the NHL Combine. There’s more to him than just athleticism though, as Foudy is an elite skating threat that is just brimming with potential. No one knows exactly where his ceiling lies when it comes to professional hockey, but an offensive explosion is expected when he returns to London next season. Columbus already has a young defense core built into their roster, leaving them a chance to pick a high-upside player like Foudy in the first round.

19. Philadelphia – F Jay O’Brien, Thayer Academy (USHS)

After selecting Farabee earlier in the round, the Flyers take another well-rounded forward in O’Brien. Admittedly, there is always some risk in selecting a player from the high school level, but O’Brien has done everything right to mitigate that risk. The High School Player of the Year, O’Brien plays with great speed and offensive vision and was an elite play-maker in the prep school ranks. O’Brien can certainly stand to fill out his frame and play a more complete defensive game, but he will have time at Providence College to do just that. This is a project pick for Philadelphia that some may consider a reach, but O’Brien’s composure and confidence on the ice indicate that he was what it takes to make it to the next level.

20. Los Angeles – F Rasmus Kupari, Karpat (Liiga)

Kupari is a player who is hard to nail down at this point in his development. He showed great hands and offensive creativity at the lower levels in Finland, but his offense dried up at the major pro level. He was mostly ineffective and sometime invisible in the Liiga and his stock has dropped as a result. If he can return to being a crafty center capable of putting up points, then he could be a dynamic offensive force. However, he needs to bulk up and work on a more aggressive game that would allow him to compete against men and one day star in the NHL.

21. San Jose – D Ryan Merkley, Guelph Storm (OHL)

Merkley is the wild card of this draft class. The supremely talented defenseman could have been a top ten pick if it wasn’t for other concerns, both on and off the ice. While Merkley is an elite skater and a gifted passer, he has not been known to put the same consistent effort into his defensive game. Merkley has shown flashes of strong positional play and checking ability in his own zone, but he simply doesn’t show it off very often. Merkley also has behavioral concerns and has gotten a bad reputation for being easily frustrated and overly emotional. Some have even speculated that he could be uncoachable and a negative locker room influence. There is major risk associated with Merkley, but if he focuses and puts it all together, he has enough skill to be truly special at the next level. The Sharks will give him a few years to do just that.

22. NY Rangers (from PIT via OTT) – D K’Andre Miller, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)

The Rangers traded up to select Miller, who is a unique blend of abilities on the blue line. The big defender plays almost a power forward style on the ice. Miller is a strong skater with great defensive and offensive instincts who contributes all around the ice. Miller is a physical threat but also brings a good offensive touch. At the University of Wisconsin, Miller will further round out his game and has a lot of upside down the road for the Rangers.

23. Anaheim – F Isac Lundestrom, Lulea (SHL)

Some people might be disappointed if they peruse Lundestrom’s stat page, but know that there is more to his offensive game than he’s been able to show as a young player in Sweden. Though his ceiling likely isn’t as high as some of the other forwards still on the board, the Ducks have picked a near-lock for NHL duty one day and a player who can help fill out their center depth in relatively short order. For a team that will be losing Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler before long, adding a player who could contribute in the middle was likely a priority. Puck possession is the new physicality, and Lundestrom has can keep it away from defenders with ease.

24. Minnesota – D Filip Johansson, Leksands IF (SuperElit)

The Wild go way off the board in selecting Johansson, a defenseman that very few thought would be selected anywhere near the first round. Even in a lower Swedish pro league, Johansson saw limited ice time this season, especially in key situations, and as a result limited offensive production. When Johansson has played on the international stage against players his age, he has been able to exhibit more of his two-way ability. He is a good skater and good passer and plays a patient, calculated possession game. He also plays a smart defensive game and shows good positioning and gap control. However, Johansson lacks either a dangerous shot or dangerous checking presence and overall does not possess any elite abilities. His upside is limited right now and is a long-term project for Minnesota.

25. St. Louis (from TOR) – F Dominik Bokk, Vaxjo Lakers (SuperElit)

The Blues traded up for the right to select the dynamic German winger Bokk. Bokk is a big forward – and still growing – but plays a speed and finesse offensive game. He is a good skater and an even better puck mover and has the makings of an elite play-maker. However, Bokk is still lacking a complete game. He doesn’t use his size to play a physical role and actually shies away from contract and rarely forechecks effectively or fights for loose pucks. He has almost no defensive game to speak of as of now. Bokk needs to mature and likely won’t be ready for the NHL for a few years. However, once he gets there he has high-end offensive skill that will make him a major threat.

26. Ottawa Senators (from BOS via NYR) – D Jacob Bernard-Docker, Okotoks Oilers  (AJHL)

Bernard-Docker will be considered a slight reach by some, but smart, two-way defensive play is often worth reaching for. Bernard-Docker is a Junior A player out of the Alberta League, like last year’s #4 overall pick Cale Makar and, like Makar, he is an exciting offensive player who doesn’t sacrifice defensive awareness to make plays.  Bernard-Docker is extremely mobile and has next-level quickness. When he takes chances on offense, Bernard-Docker has the speed and awareness to get back on defense and plays a tight man-to-man style. Bernard-Docker doesn’t have the same elite skills that Makar has, but will have time to work on them at the University of North Dakota. This could pan out into a really nice pick for Ottawa.

27. Chicago (from NSH) – D Nicholas Beaudin, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

In a draft dominated by defensemen, Beaudin represents just another excellent puck-moving option for the Blackhawks. After already taking Boqvist with their first selection, the team pumps in another high-upside, incredibly mobile player in Beaudin, who scored 69 points in 68 games this season and made huge strides at the end of the year in the defensive zone. Though he’s sure to return to junior for another year, the Blackhawks can happily wait for him to develop into the powerplay quarterback many believe he can be.

28. NY Rangers (from TBL) – D Nils Lundkvist, Lulea (SHL)

There’s no doubt that the Rangers are going for upside with their draft this year after taking Kravtsov and Miller, and Lundkvist adds just another young dynamic player to the mix. He won’t even turn 18 for another few weeks, and already played a regular shift in the SHL this season. New York is going for a quick turnaround, and though Lundkvist won’t be joining them for at least another year, they could easily see him jumping into their top four down the line. The fact that he’s right-handed just adds another valuable dimension to this late first-round pick, the team’s third of the day.

29. Toronto (from WPG via St. Louis) – D Rasmus Sandin, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Yet another small, offensive-minded defenseman, Sandin may have seen his draft stock improve more than any other prospect in this draft class over the past year. Moving to North America was a huge boost for the Swedish rearguard, who was a major contributor to a dominant Greyhounds squad. Toronto GM Kyle Dubas used to run Soo, so it is no surprise that he targeted a player who he likely got plenty of inside intelligence on. Sandin is not the speediest skater, but he protects the puck well and has great vision. An intelligent play-maker and a great positional defender, Sandin is both a safe pick and also a multi-talented one.

30. Detroit (from VGK) – F Joe Veleno, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

Veleno’s drop down the draft board was one of, if not the biggest surprise of draft night. A truly talented skater with an innate ability to possess the puck and both speed up and slow down the offensive rush, Veleno is a puck-handling wizard. He has the patience and vision to quarterback a power play and the speed to chase down loose pucks and create odd-man rushes. However, Veleno is almost exclusively a play-maker. He does not shoot frequently enough nor does he possess a high-end shot. He also refrains from crashing the net or aggressively battling for pucks along the boards. Veleno needs to be more assertive and less lax in his offensive style or his NHL upside will be limited to a middle-six powerplay specialist. Still, for Detroit to walk out of the first round with Zadina and Veleno is nothing short of a miracle. Quite a night for the Red Wings, who still have several high value picks on day two.

31. Washington – D Alexander Alexeyev, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

The defending Stanley Cup champs wrap up the first round with their speciality – a high-ceiling Russian. Alexeyev has the potential to be an elite shutdown defender with time and focus. Alexeyev has a great size and is still growing and uses his frame effectively at the junior level. However, his physical play and his fragile health would both benefit from filling out his massive frame. If Alexeyev works to get stronger, he could be the best defensive blue liner in the draft class. With a safe and aware defensive game and a focus on checking predictably comes with a lack of offensive upside. Alexeyev is deceptively mobile and can make a great outlet pass, but he prefers not to risk getting out of position by jumping in on offense. He projects to be a pure stay-at-home defender at the next level, but with a ceiling of one of the best in that area.

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